Apparatus for operating vapor-launches



(No Model.)

F. W. OFELDT. APPARATUS FOR OPERATING VAPOR LAUNCHES.

Patented Dec. 10

Inventor.

Attorney.

AN DREW I! GRAHAM UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

FRANK OFELDT, OF JERSEY CITY, NElV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE MARINE VAPORENGINE COMPANY, OF NEIV JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR OPERATING VAPOR-LAUNCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,226, dated December10, 1895.

Application filed April 20, 1894. Serial No. 508,318. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK XV. OFELDT, of Jersey City, Hudson county, andState of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus forOperating Vapor-Launches, &c., of which the following is aspecification.

My invention has reference to apparatus for operating vapor-launches,8m. and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth inthe following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings,which form a part thereof.

Small launches have heretofore been operated by the employment ofnaphtha, which is vaporized by heat and in its expanded conditionemployed under pressure to operate the engine. The naphtha vapor uponbeing exhausted from the engine is condensed and The object of myinvention is to overcome all of the defects due to the employment ofnaphthathat is to say, I eliminate the tendency to fire, I reduce thetemperature required for maintaining a given pressure in operating theengines, and I do not require changing or replacing the vaporizableliquid.

In carrying out my invention I provide the launch at the forward endwith two tanks, one of small size and containing alcohol, and the otherof large size and containing a hydrocarbon oil, such as head-light oil,which is fireproof. The alcohol-tank is preferably at the bottom, so asto be adjacent to the cool surface of the keel and be protected alsoagainst the rays of the sun as its contents are more volatile than thatof the oil-tank.

At a suitable location, and preferably in the returned to the tank.Aportion of the naphrear of the launch, I arrange the engine to 2o thawhich is vaporized in the generator has operate the screw-propeller andthe generabeen employed to heat the generator. In this tor for producingthe pressure necessary to manner a single fluid has been used both tooperate said engine. The alcohol is fed to generate the motive power andact as the the generator-coils by a suitable pump confuel. tinuouslyoperated by the engine, and is 25 The great objection to the employmentof quickly vaporized within the coils, assuming naphtha lies in the factthat while it has exa predetermined pressure, and operates the cellentproperties for being quickly vaporengine at this pressure. The alcoholicvapor ized under pressure, it is very objectionable to after escapingfrom the engine is condensed have in a launch, because being highly inina suitable condenser upon the bottom of o flammable it is liable toready ignition, and the launch, and returns to the alcohol-tank if fromany cause it should become ignited it as a fluid. It will be observedthat the alcoburns with an intense heat. If it should eshol is thus in aclosed circuit having no comcape upon the water it does not mix with themunication with the burner or means of heatwater and would burn upon thesurface, so ing the coils, and is in no way consumed. 35 as to endangerthe lives of the occupants of The headlight-oil is connected by asuitable the vessel. pipe with the vapor-generator of the burner,

Another and more important defect in the which latter is arranged belowthe vaporizuse of naphtha from a commercial standpoint ing-coils of thegenerator and adapted to prois thatnaphtha after being expanded andconduce a hydrocarbon vapor which is mixed o 40 densed a few times losesits property of ready with air and burned for the purpose ofheatcxpansion and in a great measure is useless ing the generator-coilsto vaporize the alcohol for for further use. In any event it is not ecocontained therein. The headlight-oil is sup nomical to use it for morethan about six or plied to the burner under a given pressure eightcomplete vaporizations. In practice it produced by an automatic pumpoperated by 5 45 seems to lose in time its property of becomthe engine.The headlight-oil will not burn ing a vapor under the temperature of thegenif fire is suddenly applied to it. It will not erator, and for thisreason and owing to the ignite if it escapes upon the water or into thelack of a sufficient naphtha supply or the liaboat. It is not asvolatile as naphtha and bility of not being able to secure freshnaphtherefore has less liability to generate explo- 10o tha it becomesdifficult to take long cruises in the launch.

sive gases. The alcohol is volatile at a lower temperature than naphthaand generates a higher pressure for the same heat. Itis possible to morequickly raise the necessary pressure to operate the engine, and thepressure medium is practically inexhaustible. In practice five gallonsof alcohol will suffice a twenty-five foot launch for a whole year, andeven then the only loss is due to, leakage. Owing to the fact thatalcohol vaporizes at a lower temperature, it is evident that a givensupply of oil burned in the vapor-burner will propel the launch to agreater distance than when naphtha is used both as the pressure agentand the fuel.

My improvements will be better understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of avapor-launch embodying my improvements. Fig, 2 is an inverted plan viewof same. 3 isa vertical sectional elevation of same on line 41 1-02 ofFig. 1; and Fig. 4 is'an elevation of the pump device for thevapor-burner.

A is the boat proper, and as usually made has a seat-compartment orcock-pit Sin the middle, a tank-compartment R at the forward or bow end,and a rear compartment for the machinery.

B represents any suitable vapor-generator, preferably formed of-a seriesof coils.. The terminals from these coils respectively receive thealcohol from the pump and supply "apor to the engine.

H is an alcohol-tank arranged in the lower part of the compartment R atthe bow of the boat, and-is provided with a sealed nozzle 7L whereby. itmay be filled with alcohol when necessary.

I is an alcohol-supply pipe leading from the bottom of the alcohol-tankand passing along the lower part of the boat. This pipe I. connects withthe suction side of a small alcoholpump J indicated in dotted lines anddirectlyoperated from the shaft E of the en,- gine C. This pump J forcesthe alcohol through a check-valve 3' into, a pipe 1 connecting with thecoil of the generator B.

The vapor-pipe from the coils of the generator is indicated at K andsupplies the vapor under pressure to the engine 0, which engine maybe ofany suitable construction and adapted to operate the propeller; Dthrough the shaft E. The exhaust-vapor from the engine 0 escapes by anexhaust-pipe it (see Fig. 2) into a condenser L arranged upon the bottomof the boat,so as to be constantly in contact with the cold water, andwhich produces immediate condensation of the ex; hausted vapor. Thecondensed vapor of alcohol leaves the condenser L by a nozzlel andthereby returns into the tank H to, be used over again. Ahand-pump J isarranged in the pipe I, so that just prior to the operation of theengine 0 the alcohol may be forced into the generator-coilsBto enable apressure to be formed therein sulficient to startthe engine. This pumpJis provided with suitable check-valves. to. enable its proper operthefuel for the vapor-burner.

ation, and to prevent any pressure from the generator making itself feltbackward into the tank H.

F is a vapor-burner arranged below the generator-coils B and isconnected with an oiltank M arranged in the compartment R above thealcohol-tank H, by means of a pipe N. The oil-tank M is provided with asealed aperture m whereby the tank may be filled with oil from time totime. I prefer to employ in this tank a hydrocarbon oil adapted to standthe fire-test, such as headlight-oil, so that under no normal conditionscould the said oil be ignited. Arranged in the pipe N is a pump 0provided with suitable check-valves, and bythe operation of which theoil is sucked from the tank M and forced under uniform pressure intothevapor-burner E where it is vaporized and burned with admixture of air.The nozzle f of the coil of the burner-forvaporizi-ng the oil dischargesinto an air-tube G, so as to suck in a sufficientquantity of air toproduce perfect combustion from the orifices ofsaid. tube simultaneouslyheating the burner-coils to vaporize the oil and also thegenerator-coils B to vaporize the alcohol.

The pump 0 may be of any suitable construction, and is operated by theengine B by means of an eccentric P and spring 1). (More clearly shownin Fig. at.) In this manner the eccentric P operates the lever e to suckin the oil in the pump, and the spring 12 operates upon the lever tocause the pump to force the oil into, the vapor-burner under a givenpress ure. Furthermore, this device is automatic and maintains a. givenflow of oil irrespective of any variations in the speed of the engine.In, this way the temperature is maintained, and consequently thepressure of the alcohol vapor in the generator-coils is also maintaineduniform, and the engine therefore operates with steadiness. and withoutmaterial variation in its speed. Forthese reasons there is absolutecoaction between the various parts of the apparatus tomaintaill a givenpressure of vapor in the generator for operating the engine by means ofa source of heat separate and distinct from the vaporoperating theengine. This. is a feature of the utmost importance in vapor launches.The checkvalve- Q inthe pipe N leading to the vaporburner prevents anypossibility of the oil passing from the burner backward into the pump.during the'reci-procations of its plunger. The size of the. orifices ffor the escape of the vapor into the air-mixing tube G controlstheamount of oil discharged by the pump 0, and also insures the absoluteamount of pressure which may be possible in the coils B with; agiventension of spring 1).

The alcohol which is the immediate source of; power for the engine isnever consumed because it'plays no part in the generation of It is.circulated; in what may be termed an absolutelysealed circuit, and thereis no lossof'alcohol except what is due to leakage. The low temperatureat which alcohol may be volatilized and brought to a given pressure ispeculiarly advantageous in this system as it permits, with a givenamount of oil as a fuel, a greater distance to be traveled by the boat,and also enables the vapor-pressure to be more quickly produced andmaintained.

By locating the alcohol-tank I-l below the oil-tank M it is protectedfrom the suns heat, first by the tank M and its contents, and, secondly,by being located in a portion of the boat immediately in contact withthe water and therefore exceedingly coo]. This is an important provisionin that the high specific volatility of the alcohol renders it necessaryfor the proper operation of the apparatus to protect it againstexcessive temperature in the summertime when the suns rays areexceedingly strong.

\Vhile I prefer alcohol as the immediate source of power vapor I mayemploy other highly volatile substances, which may be termed equivalentstherefor, such as chloroform or ether; but I prefer for practicalpurposes to employ the common commercial wood-alcohol which'is cheapest.It is also evident that while headlight-oil adapted to withstand thefire-test is the most desirable and more readily attainable, other formsof oil may be employed in lieu thereof.

In starting the apparatus, it is necessary to heat the vapor-burner F bysome auxiliary means and this is accomplished by allowing oil to flowfrom a small tank T through a pipe IV controlled by a valve t into thevaporburner where it is ignited so as to give it a preliminary heatingsufficient to make it selfacting in the generation of its own vapor.After this preliminary heating the valve 25 is shut oif and theapparatus continues to work automatically.

In starting up the apparatus it is also necessary to force some of thealcohol into the generator B when the pump J is at rest, and this isaccomplished by means of a hand-p ump .I, the said pump forcing thealcohol through the pump J and its check-valve j. After the apparatus isin operation the pump J feeds necessary alcohol to thegenerator B andthe pump J is then normally out of action.

The illustrations of apparatus for carrying out my improvements aresimply illustrative of suitable apparatus adapted to the purpose, andtherefore it is to be understood that I do not confine myself to anyparticular details thereof so long as it performs the function statedand permits the proper carrying out of my invention. I have described myinvention as especially applicable to launches, but it is to beunderstood that I do not confine myself to that particular use, as theprocess and apparatus might be employed in connection with power plantsin buildings or other places requiring special adaptations.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vapor launch, power apparatus arranged upon the vessel andconsisting of avavapor generator, in combination with a vapor burner, anengine, independent pumping devices for supplying oil to the burner andvolatile fluid to the generator, a tank forholding the volatile liquidarranged near the bottom of the vessel and substantially below the waterline thereof, apipe connecting said tank with the pump for supplyingliquid to the generator, a tank for containing the oil arranged withinthe boat and above the first mentioned tank so as to shield it fromthe'rays of the sun, and prevent the formation of vapor therein and apipe leading from said oil tank to the pump for supplying oil to theburner.

2. In a vapor launch, power apparatus arranged upon the vessel andconsisting of a vapor generator, in combination with avapor burner, anengine, independent pumping de vices for supplying oil to the burner andvolatile fluid to the generator, a tank for holding the volatile liquidarranged near the bottom of the vessel and substantially below the waterline thereof, a pipe connecting said tank with the pump for supplyingliquid to the generator, a tank for containing the oil arranged withinthe boat and above the first mentioned tank so as to shield it from therays of the sun, and prevent the formation of vapor therein, a pipeleading from said oil tank to the pump for supplying oil to the burner,and a condenser arranged upon the outside of the boat leadingfrom theexhaust of the engine and discharging into the first mentioned or lowertank.

3. In a vapor launch, a boat having a com-' partment at its bow, a lowertank arranged at the bottom of the compartment and below the water linefor containing a highly volatile fluid, an upper tank for containing oilar ranged above the lower tank to shield it from the suns rays andprevent the formation "of vapor therein, sealed orifices for supplyingfluid to the respective tanks, a vapor generator, a vapor burner, anengine receiving vapor from the generator, a pipe leading from the upperor oil tank to the vapor burner, a constant pressure pump to force theoil from the tank to the burner, a pipe leading from the lower tank tothe generator, and a pump operated by the engine to force fluid from thesaid tank to the generator.

4:. In a vapor launch, a boat having a compartment at its bow, a lowertank arranged at the bottom of the compartment and below the water linefor containing a highly volatile fluid, an upper tank for containing oilarranged above the lower tank to shield it against the rays of the sunand prevent the formation of vapor, sealed orifices for supplying fluidto the respective tanks, avapor generator, a vapor burner, an enginereceiving vapor from the generator, a pipe leadingfrom the upper or oiltank to the vapor burner, a constant pressure pump to force the oil fromthe tank to the burner, a pipe leading from the lower tank to thegenerator, a pump op- IIO erated by the engine to force fluid from thesaid tank to the genera-tor, and a condenser interposed between theexhaust of theengine and the lowermost tank.

5. In a vapor launch, power apparatus arranged upon the vessel andcomprising a vapor generator, avapor burner, an engine, and independentpumping devices for supplying oil to the burner and volatile fluid tothe generator, in combination with atank for holding the volatile liquidarranged near the bottom of the vessel and substantially below the waterline thereof, apipe connectingsaid tank with the pump forsupplyingliquid to the-generator, a tank for containing the-oil arrangedwithin the boat and above thefirstmentioned tank sons to shield it fromthe rays of the sun and prevent the formation of vapor, a pipe leadingfrom said oil tank to the pump for supplying oil to the burner, means.for maintaining-a constant pressure on the oil pump and an independenthand pump arranged in the pipe leading from the lowerto condense thevapor flowing in said circuit,

a power pump to positively force the volatile liquid from the tank intothe generator, a vapor burner having-no connection with the closedcircuit, an oil tank, a pipeleadin g from the oil tank tothe vaporburner, and a constant pressure power pump for forcing; oil from the oiltank into the vapor burner, whereby the vapor of the burner is entirelyindependent of the vapor of the generator and i the temperature of theburner is maintained constant.

7. A power plant consisting of the combination of a vapor generator, atank for containing volatile liquid, aclosed circuit leading from thesaid tank including the generator and returning to said tank, an engineinterposed between the generator and the tank to receive the vapor, acondenser interposed between the eXhaust of the engine and the tankv tocondense the vapor flowing in said circuit, a power pump to positivelyforce the volatile liquid from the tank into the generator, avaporburner having no connection with the closed circuit, an oil tank, a pipeleading from the oil tank to the vapor burner, a con;- stant pressurepower pump for forcing oil from the oil tank into the vapor burnerwhereby the Vapor of the burneris entirely independent of the vapor ofthe generator, and

power devices for simultaneously operating both of the pumpsoneuniformly with the engine and the other intermittently to maintain theconstantpressure.

8. A power plant consisting of the combination of a vapor generator, atank for containing volatile liquid, aclosed circuit leading from thesaid tank including the generator and returning to said tank, an engineinterposed between the generator and the tank to receive the vapor, acondenser interposed between the exhaust of the engine and the tank tocondense the vapor flowing in said circuit, apower pump to positivelyforcethe volatile liquid from the tank into the generator, a vaporburner having no connection with the closed circuit, an oil tank, a pipeleading from the oil tank to the vapor burner, a power pump for forcingoil from the oil tank into the vapor burner whereby the Vapor of theburner'is entirely independent of the vapor of the generator, powerdevicesfor simultaneously operating both of thepumps, and meansindependent of the power devices for forcing oil into the burner tocontrol the pressure under which the oil is delivered to the vaporburner whereby a uniform temperature may be maintained and a uniformorsubstantially uniform pressure produced in the generator.

9. In a vapor launch, the combination of a vapor generator, a volatileliquid tank, closed circulating supply and return circuits between thetank and the generator, an engine receiving vapor from the generator, acondenser between the exhaust of the engine and the tank and arrangedupon the outside of the launch, a pump arranged in the supply circuitbetween the tank and the generator operated by the engine tosupplyvolatile fluid to the generator, a propeller operated by the engine formoving the launch through the water and thereby presentingthe condenserto fresh bodies ofcold water,,a vapor burner for-heating the generatorentirely independent of said generator, an oil tank, a pipe leading fromthe oil tank tothe vapor burner, a pump for forcing oil from the tank tothe vapor burner, power devices operated by the enginefor actuating-thepump in one direo tion to draw the oil from the oil tank, and a springdevice for-operating the oil pump in the other direction for forcing theoil into the vapor burner under uniform pressure, whereby the pressureunder which the vapor of the burner-is generated may be lessthan thepressure of the vapor in the generator andthe heat produced be undercontrol of devices entirely independent of the pressure in thegenerator.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK \V. OFELDT. lVitnesses FRANK A, OFELDT, JOHN B; M.- SHoWELL.

